Chapter 4 

The City 

Having finished their meal they walked around the docs for a bit. A woman was selling dried seaweed pasta probably targeting the tourists, but he bought some inspired by the meal they’d just eaten. Mino had then suggested they drive towards the coast again the catch the sunset from the best spot on that side of the island and he had agreed quite happily just feeling thankful that the weather was still so nice despite the terrible evening forecast. 

His thankful thoughts must have jinxed them however because as soon as they’d driven over the hill had they spotted dark clouds so dense they almost looked purple rolling in from the south like some massive wave in the sky. 

    «Weather changes so fast out here it’s ridiculous» Mino muttered under his breath having noticed the somber prospects of their sunset viewing as well. 

    «Oh well, it’s still an impressive view» he replied and he meant it. It looked quite dramatic and with the rainy haze beneath it he felt like they were watching a wall of raw nature approach in rapid procession. 

Mino pulled over the car on a hillside and got out, in the back he had a camera and soon he was taking pictures. 

    «This is not the spot by the way, but I don’t think we’ll make it before the rain gets here» Mino explained and so he leaned up against the rocky hillside and took in the view, before slowly switching his attention to Mino as the first drops of rain begun falling. 

He knew it would only be a matter of seconds before the full force of the downpour hit them and so he patted Mino on the back who was still looking through his cameralens at the greying ocean views. 

    «Better hurry» he urged, but Mino just turned around and snapped his picture as well. 

    «Pfff stop that» he complained although more playfully than he’d intended. Mino just peeked over the camera and smiled before asking for one last picture with the storm as the background. Arching his eyebrow in a silent complaint Mino just gently nudged him so that they switched positions so that he now got the ocean views behind him. 

A few pictures, a few drops of rain and then splash! The down pour had begun. Both of them rushed into the car as fast as they could, but still got quite soaked from the single minute spent in the rain. 

    «At least you got some pictures» he laughed seeing Mino’s disgruntled face inspecting exactly how drenched his t-shirt was. 

    «Should have worn our coats» Mino mumbled before starting the car, turning the heat on. «So my house is just up this road, 15 minutes drive or so. Yours is about an hour» Mino began pulling out on the road while angling the heating towards his wet t-shirt. 

Looking over at Mino, then the road and then Mino again he wondered what Mino had in mind telling him this, but he could tell he was right because he knew perfectly well how long that coastline was. 

    «So if you don’t mind we camp at my place tonight since we are leaving for the city tomorrow morning?» Mino smiled over at him as he said the last part before turning his attention back onto the road. 

    «I guess skipping work for one day will be fine» he replied although his mind felt wobbly at the thought of sleeping at Mino’s place. He was really curious to see what the place looked like, but nervous too. The more he realized he liked Mino the more nervous he got and it really bothered him because he wanted to act his usual calm self, but Mino was making it really difficult.

    «I’ve already camped at your place so it shouldn’t be a big deal right? I even got a guest room so no sofas for either of us» Mino did a thumbs up at this part and now he couldn’t help but to laugh. Mino could be really persuasive if he wanted to there was no doubt about that. 

They drove through the rain and watched the last bit of sun for the day disappear leaving them in complete darkness except from the strong headlights of the jeep. A couple of deer jumped across the road just as Mino took the turn down his gravel covered driveway. 

    «Always lurking around that crowd» Mino mumbled having stopped abruptly to let them pass. 

As they pulled up to the house could he see its grey weathered timber and metal roof gleam in the headlights. The house was L shaped leaving the perfect spot for the car to be nestled behind it from the storm. Following Mino into the house he quickly realized the place had to be a recent new build because it got all the modern features one would come to expect in the city but not here. 

When they walked into the hall had dim lights turned themselves on and following into the kitchen he saw large windows facing the grassland to the side of the house. 

    «Let me give you a small tour» Mino said proudly and he nodded following along the wall of glass into the living room where there was two sofas a fireplace and a huge tv along with several bookcases. A couple of steps down from the living room into the corner of the L was a sunken down studio with glass walls and a glass roof making it look like a winter conservatory. At the far corner where he assumed the best view was had a large chair been places with a pile as high as the chair with books next to it. The rest of the room was a mess, paint and paintings everywhere, sculptures and developed pictures laying around on tables. On the shelves by the back wall where they’d step down were more books and smaller pieces of art. 

    «This is amazing» he told Mino in amazment just as a flash of lightning tore across the sky way out at sea. «The view on sunny days must be even better» he continued already shifting his attention from the scenery to Mino’s art. By the wall were three large pieces lined up, all in different hues of blue, one with a red, long, curved line stretching from one side of the canvas to the other. 

    «You inspired this one» Mino said noticing what he was looking at. «It’s your smile» he explained pointing to the curve. «These are the pieces I’m bringing to the city tomorrow» he added before leading away up a different pair of stairs into the other part of the L they’d yet to see. 

He followed after Mino showing him his bedroom, pointing to the doors on each side saying wardrobe and bathroom before going to the guest bedroom opposite the hall. The room was the same size as Mino’s with its own bathroom and a door leading into the sauna and gym on the other side of the room. It was only after seeing Mino’s house he concluded that the guy must have a pretty successful art career. 

    «This is really impressive» he praised as they walked out of the guest bedroom. 

    «You think?» Mino replied thoughtfully. 

    «Mhm» he confirmed. 

    «I bought it two years ago and had it reconfigured before moving out here creating that studio space and the guest bedroom» Mino explained as they sat down in the kitchen on some barstools by the small island poking out as an extension of the countertop. 

    «How about desert?» Mino suggested getting up before he could even answer «and coffee, although its not going to be as good as yours» Mino added, already getting mugs from under one of the counters. Coffee so late at night probably weren’t a good idea, but who was he to refuse.

Laying in the guest bedroom in the extra shirt he had lent Mino before he went over everything which had happened that day and then everything before that. Was Mino this nice to all his friends? Were they friends now? He couldn’t sleep although the pitter patter of the rain on the metal roof should be more than enough to lull him off to dreamland. He shouldn’t have had that coffee, but something told him he would have struggled to go to sleep either way.

He liked Mino, more than a friend, he had no doubts about that, but he would have to keep that part to himself so as to not ruin their friendship. Maybe he would tell him before they split ways at the end of summer. Maybe not. He got time to think about it, no need to stress. 

That’s what he told himself laying in the darkness, a clear image of Mino stuck onto his retina like some tattoo stuck there forever. Mino even made paintings inspired by him, and took his picture earlier in the day. It didn’t have to mean anything, he knew that, but he wanted it to mean something. He really did. 

The last time he’d checked his watch before falling asleep it had told him it was already two in the morning. Now at eight he was so tired he felt like he was dealing with some kind of hangover. Head pounding and eyes heavy he got ready in the bathroom before putting on his clothes lazily. Was Mino the kind of person who got up with a jolt after hearing his alarm? The house was quiet as he made his way down to the kitchen. 

He had just begun imagining Mino asleep and him having to wake him when he walked around the corner with the studio bellow him that he heard clattering noises from the kitchen and Mino mumbling under his breath. He already mentioned he was no cook so the fact that he was making the effort.. Seungyoon shook his head before the thought was allowed to completely manifest in his mind. 

    «Morning» he said to Mino’s back, letting him know he was there, just in case he was the type who was easily startled. Mino didn’t appear to have heard him and so he stood there looking at his wide shoulders and muscular arms wrestling with something he couldn’t tell what was from where he stood. Then Mino turned around and.. Crash!

    «Oh » Mino exclaimed looking from the crashed jar on the floor to Seungyoon. Cereal and glass everywhere they looked at each other. Mino was definitely easily startled then.

    «Morning» he repeated again just as the smell of something burning began spreading around them. Eying the stove he hurried over there navigating around the mess the best he could. 

    «I’ll get the vacuum cleaner» Mino said already leaving the kitchen. 

Mino was making something that looked like pancakes although they were so thin they seemed more like crepes. Flopping it he saw it was almost completely bl